Systems and methods for graphical search interface

ABSTRACT

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a graphical user interface as a means of inputting search parameters to database search engines. In some embodiments, two or three dimensional projections spatially represent relationships between search parameters, located along the periphery of the projections and search hits whose significance are represented by position relative to the center of the projection and comparative distance from each of the search parameters. As the user manipulates the overall shape of the search projection, the weighting of search parameters adjusts, reconfiguring the search. The present disclosure also provides, in some embodiments, an intuitive means of assimilating search parameter weightings based on peer or social network preferences with global search results.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is directed towards providing an intuitive meansof representing and manipulating the weightings of search parametersemployed by database search algorithms.

BACKGROUND

That we are awash in information is an often used, though certainlycorrect axiom of the early 21st century. The ubiquity of informationaccess portals in everyday life provides the potential for connectingmeaning to any experience or data set. Potential meaning is the keytenant here. How information sets are evaluated sorted and searched,remains the ultimate determinant of their actual value to the user.

Information in this modern sense may be considered as a two componententity; the first being the actual data it embodies, the second beingits accessibility, based on identifying tags, anchors, or fields.

The exponential increases in both data production and storagecapabilities have matched, not surprisingly, very well since “Moore'sLaw” tales have circulated through computational communities. Datasearch technologies, how information is sorted and accessed, however,have experienced a much more varied history. Though the success ofmarket leaders' search algorithms, such as Google's “page-rank,” belietheir effectiveness, the increasing volume and complexity of moderninformation structure has lead to increased user dissatisfaction andfrustration. Three significant points of current search algorithmdissatisfaction are search output discrepancies, search output bias, andan incongruous match of search interface with brain heuristicfunctioning.

Search output discrepancies may result from a circumstance referred toas the “local search problem.” This problem arises when global data setscontaining extrinsic information are not consistently cross checked or“curated” with local data sets containing intrinsic information. Forexample, a search for vacation destinations may yield inconsistentoutput if not updated with local information such as prices, businesshours and patron ratings.

Search output bias may result primarily from two causes; either becauseof discontinuities in search parameters weightings between the user, andthe search algorithm, or because of misguiding parameter weightingsthrough “search engine optimization” practices. In either case,miscommunication or lack of clear communication between user input andsearch algorithm programming may skew output away from the user'sintentions.

As search engine and social networking leaders battle the concept oftruth and validity on the internet, a potential problem looms forsociety as a whole. The popularity of social networking sites has madesearching within peer preference databases very effective and appealing.A search conducted within a social network database consisting of peerswith similar preferences (intrinsic data) is highly likely to produceuser preferable results. Such a behavior, however, limits variation byculling preference outliers. As in biology, any system lackingdiversity, while successful within its native context, is resistant tochange, slow to adapt, and quickly expends its resources.

Finally, search is a process to learn. Psychological studies of ourmind's processing methods maintain that we interpret and organizestimuli based on heuristic schemas. These heuristic schemas containimpressions and rules of thumb that are based on our collectiveexperiences. Commonly statistical methodologies are utilized to explainthe occurrence of an activity(s), a decision(s), or a behavior(s). Acommon form of explanation through statistical measurement is throughthe use of multivariate mathematical modeling. Within the mathematicalmodels it is very common to have 2-4 variables that explain the vastmajority of the phenomenon under investigation. When we form opinions orjudgments, we commonly utilize a couple of variables that form theheuristic schema that guide our decision making for a given decisiontopic.

To better match the processing methodology of our brain, an enhancedmethod and interface of search will enable a quicker, more sensitive,and more exhaustive search process. Currently, search is guided by aserial step by step process. Each step produces a list of results basedon one dimension or variable guiding the search command interface. Inorder to match our minds' organized discovery process and experientialstore of knowledge, the search interface could allow the simultaneousexpression of multi-dimensional discovery or reasoning. The searchprocess could be expressed as a coordinate within an area that is boundby the multi-dimensional vectors that represent the most importantcharacteristics that involve the topic under investigation. Each vectoris a mathematical expression denoting a combination of magnitude anddirection. Based on the number of variables that are utilized tocharacterize the topic under investigation, the area of intersectionbetween the vectors can range from uni-dimensional vector reflection toa multi-dimensional area of expression. We can use a coordinate withinthe range or area of expression to strengthen or reduce the importanceof a variable under investigation. This toggling of coordinate placementallows the search process to maintain a view that simultaneously engagesthe critical characteristics that govern an intended inquiry.

Through this process the view of search will more closely match theheuristic management of new stimuli. It allows a more graphicalrepresentation of the multi-dimensional decision making process. Itshould speed the search process by maintaining a multi-dimensional viewof the critical characteristics that are intended to guide the search.It may also enable a more exhaustive search due to the graphicalsensitivity.

There exists an apparent need for an interface between user and searchalgorithms which would allow the joining of discontinuous data sets, anintuitive means of user awareness and manipulation of search parameterweightings, as well as an effective means of searching across intrinsicand extrinsic data sets.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a graphical interface between user and adatabase search algorithm or search engine. The interface provides theuser an intuitive visualization of search parameter weighting hierarchy,as well as a means to manually reconfigure the weighting hierarchy.

The graphical interface symbolically projects the parameter weightinghierarchy as a two or three dimensional “search space,” whose centerrepresents optimal search output. The shape of the “search space” isfound to have ‘n’ vertices representing the ‘n’ parameters employed inthe search. The relative distances of parameter vertices to the spacecenter represent the relative weightings or importance of each parameterin the overall search.

As a search is initiated, vertices are determined and populated eitherthrough search engine suggestions, default settings, or userdefinitions. Initially, all parameters are weighted equally, representedas a radially symmetric shape about the optimal search output.

The interface presents the user the capability of reconfiguring thesearch by dragging individual parameters toward (increasing weight),away from (decreasing weight), or completely away from (eliminatingparameter) the shape center. As the shape is manipulated in thisfashion, optimal search results are updated in real time.

Finally, the interface allows the user to simultaneously examinemultiple data sets, searching for intersection by joining parameterscommon to each set, or union by joining “search spaces” of each set.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts one example of a typical search engine output;

FIG. 2 depicts one example of a typical search engine related searchsuggestions output;

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary “search space” two-dimensional projectionwith vertices populated with search suggestion output, consistent withthe presently disclosed graphical search interface;

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary reconfigured graphical “search space”projection, consistent with the presently disclosed graphical searchinterface;

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary “search space” projection weighting, e.g.,vacation deals in South America, consistent with the presently disclosedgraphical search interface;

FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary “search space” projection for, e.g., summervacation with social network profile applied in ‘search within’ mode,consistent with the presently disclosed graphical search interface; and

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary “search space” projection for, e.g., summervacation with social network profile applied in ‘search beyond’ mode,consistent with the presently disclosed graphical search interface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It should be noted from the outset that the graphical user interfaceconsistent with the present disclosure, and as explained in thisdescription, may be employed with any database search algorithm orsearch engine capable of examining multiple search parameters indetermining optimal match output.

The capability of the presently disclosed graphical search interface ofvisualizing and reorienting search engine output as specified by theuser's goals, preferences, and needs can be illustrated through using asearch for ‘summer vacations’ as an example.

If the user was to enter the search parameter ‘summer vacation’ intoGoogle's search engine, the output would be similar to the screen shotdisplayed in FIG. 1.

This output presents two issues that the invention addresses; one, it isimpersonal in the sense that it is a generic output that does notadequately address the users goals, preferences, or needs, two, itdisplays the output in a list of hyperlinks potentially requiring theuser to scan pages of information. In addition to these problems, therelated searches that Google produces at the bottom of the initialsearch output page are numerous and call for extensive cross referencingof search outputs in order to determine optimal results (FIG. 2).

The presently disclosed graphical search interface would provide thefollowing graphical output immediately after the initial searchparameter was entered as represented in FIG. 3. This initial graphicaloutput projects a radially symmetric search space shape whose verticesare populated with the initial search parameter along with all relatedsearches that are generated (FIG. 3). Each vertex, then represents asearch parameter. The maximum and minimum number of search parametersmay be default or user defined. Contained within the search space shapeis a matrix of hyperlinks related to all parameters. A given hyperlink'scoordinates inside the search space are determined by its relevance tothe search parameters. Nearer proximity represents higher relevancebetween hyperlink and search parameter. The middle region of the searchspace represents search output generated by equally weighting all searchspace parameters. Thus the center of the search space represents anoptimal hit subset, most equally relevant to all searchparameters—labeled ‘A’ in FIG. 3.

In order to view a hyperlink contained within the graphic, the usersimply highlights the point on the graphic that is in tune with his/hergoals, preferences, and needs, and the interface will display a list ofhyperlinks common to that search region. If the initial search spaceoutput does match the user's intentions, the interface presents the userthe capability of reconfiguring the search by dragging individualparameters toward (increasing weight), away from (decreasing weight), orcompletely away from (eliminating parameter) the shape center (FIG. 5).As the search space dimensions are reconfigured, its coordinate systemis continually repopulated with the updated hyperlink matrix. In thisway, the presently disclosed graphical search interface allows for usersto intuitively perform a search in unison with their mental criteria forwhat a successful search will generate.

It should be noted at this point that two parameter cross-referencingsearch modes exist within the presently disclosed graphical searchinterface; quick search, and web search. In the quick search mode, onlya parameter's relative radial distance to the center of the search spaceis compared to the radial distance of other parameters. This modeenables quicker searching since the absolute order of parameters aboutthe search space perimeter does not factor into the overall search. Inweb search mode, the search weight of a parameter is determined by itsradial distance to the search space center, as well as distances to allother search parameters. This mode may require reordering of parameterorder, requiring additional interface time, though producing moreparameter detailed output.

Additionally, the presently disclosed graphical search interfaceprovides a means for the user to intuitively perform searches acrossseeming non-compatible data bases. Comparing value preferences of auser's social network database, loosely considered intrinsic data, withextrinsic data sets, such as lists of films offered through a videostreaming website may be performed as follows with the presentlydisclosed graphical search interface. Suppose the user would wish toconduct a search looking for a film based on how his social networkpreferences would value each of the search space initial searchparameters; say, thriller films, foreign films, and films producedbefore the year 2000. To engage this ‘search within’ protocol, the userwould simply encircle the graphical search space with the user's socialnetwork icon to search for hits within the network preferences (FIG. 6),such as within social network databases such as Facebook and Google+.If, on the other hand, the user wishes to include his/her social networkpreferences as an additional parameter to the search space, and ‘searchbeyond’ profile preferences, he/she would simply drag the social networkicon inside of the search space, allowing it to populate along thesearch space perimeter—currently possible only through performingmultiple searches and extensive cross referencing (FIG. 7). In eithersearch, the user's final choice would update his/her value preferencesof their network profile. The intricacies of these two search strategiescreate significant effects on a user's social network profile and,potentially, social behavior. Choices made through the ‘search within’protocol, although comfortable to the user, and predictable to themarketer, provide no new social fodder, nothing new is added to thebehavioral ‘gene pool’ of the user. Networks of this type become quicklysaturated and stale of market potential. The ‘search beyond’ strategyprovides the appeal of including personal preferences, while potentiallyintroducing new information and diversifying social networks. Diversesocial networks are more robust, adaptable to change, and provide agreater range of investment opportunities.

The foregoing description has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and othermodifications and variations may be possible in light of the aboveteachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to bestexplain the principles of the invention and its practical application tothereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the inventionin various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method for enablingInternet users to interact with a graphical search interface, the methodcomprising: receiving, from a user over an electronic network, aninitial search parameter; identifying, using a search engine database, aplurality of related search parameters, based on the received initialsearch parameter, wherein the search engine database enables users toquery multiple data sets; generating, by a processor, amulti-dimensional search space, based on the initial and related searchparameters, wherein the multi-dimensional search space has a perimeterdefined by the initial and related search parameters; generating, by aprocessor, a matrix of hyperlinks within the multi-dimensional searchspace, each hyperlink having coordinates within the search spacedefining a relevance of each hyperlink to the initial and related searchparameters; transmitting, for display to the user over the network, agraphical interface projecting the multi-dimensional search space, alongwith one or more user elements by which the user may adjust a relativeweight of one or more of the initial and related search parameters byinteracting with one or more of the hyperlinks; and transmitting, fordisplay to the user over the network, a plurality of search resultsautomatically updated in real time based on the user-adjusted weights ofthe initial and related search parameters; wherein each of the one ormore user elements is movable toward or away from a center of themulti-dimensional search space to change the relative weight of one ormore of the initial and related search parameters.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the perimeter of the multi-dimensional search space hasa plurality of vertices, each vertex of the plurality of verticesrepresenting one of the related search parameters employed in a searchinitiated by the user.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the oneor more user elements is a vertex of a plurality of parameter verticesin the multi-dimensional search space, and relative distances ofparameter vertices to a center of the multi-dimensional search spacerepresent the relative weightings or importance of each parameter in auser Internet search.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein themulti-dimensional search space has a center representing an optimalsearch output.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein, initially, the initialand related search parameters are weighted equally, such that themulti-dimensional search space is a radially symmetric shape about anoptimal search output.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:enabling the user to simultaneously examine multiple data sets; andsearching for an intersection by joining parameters common to each dataset, by joining search spaces of each data set.
 7. The method of claim1, wherein the hyperlinks in the matrix of hyperlinks have a relevanceweighting that increases in a direction from the perimeter to a centerof the multi-dimensional search space.
 8. The method of claim 1, whereinany one of the plurality of related search parameters is removable as aparameter of the plurality of related search parameters by dragging auser element of the one of the plurality of related search parameters ina direction away from the perimeter of the multi-dimensional searchspace.
 9. A computer-implemented method for enabling Internet users tointeract with a graphical search interface, the method comprising:receiving, from a user over an electronic network, an initial searchparameter; generating, using a search engine database a plurality ofrelated search parameters, based on the received initial searchparameter, wherein the search engine database enables users to querymultiple data sets; generating, by a processor, a multi-dimensionalsearch space having a plurality of vertices, based on the initial andrelated search parameters, wherein each vertex is populated with andrepresents one of the initial or related search parameters; generating,by a processor, a matrix of hyperlinks within the multi-dimensionalsearch space, each hyperlink having coordinates within the search spacedefining a relevance of the hyperlink to each of the initial and relatedsearch parameters; transmitting, for display to the user over thenetwork, a graphical interface projecting the multi-dimensional searchspace, along with one or more user elements by which the user may adjusta relative weight of one or more of the initial and related searchparameters by interacting with one or more of the hyperlinks; andtransmitting, for display to the user over the network, a plurality ofsearch results automatically updated in real time based on theuser-adjusted weights of the initial and related search parameters;wherein each of the one or more user elements is movable toward or awayfrom a center of the multi-dimensional search space to change therelative weight of one or more of the initial and related searchparameters.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the multi-dimensionalsearch space has ‘n’ vertices representing ‘n’ parameters employed in asearch initiated by the user.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein each ofthe one or more user elements is a vertex of the plurality of vertices,and relative distances of vertices to a center of the multi-dimensionalsearch space represent the relative weightings or importance of eachparameter in a user Internet search.
 12. The method of claim 9, whereinthe multi-dimensional search space has a center representing an optimalsearch output.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein, initially, initialand related search parameters are weighted equally, such that themulti-dimensional search space is a radially symmetric shape about anoptimal search output.
 14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:enabling the user to simultaneously examine multiple data sets; andsearching for an intersection by joining parameters common to each dataset, by joining search spaces of each data set.
 15. The method of claim9, wherein the hyperlinks in the matrix of hyperlinks have a relevanceweighting that increases in a direction from the perimeter to a centerof the multi-dimensional search space.
 16. The method of claim 9,wherein any one of the plurality of related search parameters isremovable as a parameter of the plurality of related search parametersby dragging a user element of the one of the plurality of related searchparameters in a direction away from the perimeter of themulti-dimensional search space.
 17. A computer-implemented method forenabling Internet users to interact with a graphical search interface,the method comprising: receiving, from a user over an electronicnetwork, an initial search parameter; identifying, using a search enginedatabase, a plurality of related search parameters, based on thereceived initial search parameter, wherein the search engine databaseenables users to query multiple data sets; generating, by a processor, amulti-dimensional search space having a perimeter defined by the initialand related search parameters; generating, by a processor, a matrix ofhyperlinks within the multi-dimensional search space, each hyperlinkwithin the search space having a relevance to the initial and relatedsearch parameters; transmitting, for display to the user over thenetwork, a graphical interface projecting the multi-dimensional searchspace, along with one or more user elements by which the user may adjusta relative weight of one or more of the initial and related searchparameters; and transmitting, for display to the user over the network,a plurality of search results automatically updated in real time basedon the user-adjusted weights of the initial and related searchparameters; wherein each of the one or more user elements is movabletoward or away from a center of the multi-dimensional search space tochange the relative weight of one or more of the initial and relatedsearch parameters.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein themulti-dimensional search space includes a matrix of hyperlinks having arelevance weighting that increases in a direction from the perimeter toa center of the multi-dimensional search space.
 19. The method of claim17, wherein any one of the plurality of related search parameters isremovable as a parameter of the plurality of related search parametersby dragging a user element of the one of the plurality of related searchparameters in a direction away from the perimeter of themulti-dimensional search space.